a) What are the expectations for the outcome of Rio+20, and what are the concrete proposals in this regard, including views on a possible structure of the Outcome document?

The Rio+20 conferences should prioritize for the political commitments through the institutionalization of the Sustainable Development and Green Economy concepts in various binding agreements.
b) What are the comments, if any, on existing proposals: e.g., a green economy roadmap, framework for action, sustainable development goals, a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, or others?

The proposed themes of Rio+20 Conference-- a green economy (GE) in the context of sustainable development (SD) and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development-- are very vague. There is no clear documentation regarding the history and the theoretical route of green economy initiatives. In separate attached document, I outline the theoretical frame of GE and SD (see attached document).
c) What are the views on implementation and on how to close the implementation gap, which relevant actors are envisaged as being involved (Governments, specific Major Groups, UN system, IFIs, etc.);

There is an assumption that GE tries to capture the notion of the vulnerability of human welfare, caused by the degradation of global environment, which can be understood as a result of the widespread application of an unsustainable economic growth. Probably, it captures the concerns of the past four decades to address climate change to frame treaty agreements. The GE initiates can serve as a tool for the greening as an engine for growth, with valuing the ecosystem services and biodiversity issues by addressing strategic uncertainty such as: the likelihood of adverse effects; the consequences of change; the speed of change; discontinuities; and especially uncertainty over the effectiveness of policy instruments.

The issues of institutionalization of political commitments are missing in Rio+20. In order to attain the objectives of the SD, institutional framework has to be developed to coordinate and manage activities of all related stakeholders (i.e. governments, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors; development banks; international nongovernmental and governmental organizations; national nongovernmental organizations etc.). It requires an effective institutional structure, strong policy, and framework for policy implementation and can work effectively, efficiently, equitably and transparently.
d) What specific cooperation mechanisms, partnership arrangements or other implementation tools are envisaged and what is the relevant time frame for the proposed decisions to be reached and actions to be implemented?

To achieve the desired outcomes in such complicated themes, it would be hard to propose the specific timeframe. However, it is also necessary to bind within the time frame; therefore, I proposed three schemes (1) 2 to 3 years policy and program framing phase; 4-6 years program implementation phase; and 7-10 years monitoring and evaluation phase.

To implement the green economy initiatives in the developing world, there is also a need to change or revisit the trade regulations imposed by the World Trade Organization (WTO); especially the social and environmental conditions of specific developments such as the removal of the ability of foreign cooperation to over-ride local social and environmental factors. To foster the ability of the developing world, it is essential to establish a chain of cooperation between North and South. The chain of cooperation can be established through creation of international oversight schemes which can help to bridge the gap between North and South.

Specific Elements

a) Objective of the Conference: To secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing the progress to date and remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges.

Contributions could include possible sectoral priorities (e.g., (e.g., energy, food security and sustainable agriculture, technology transfer, water, oceans, sustainable urbanization, sustainable consumption and production, natural disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, biodiversity, etc.) and sectoral initiatives that contribute to integrate the three pillars of sustainable development could be launched and endorsed at Rio+20.

N/A
b) Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication: views regarding how green economy can be a means to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions, and poverty eradication; what is its potential added value; experience to date, including what has worked and how to build upon success, what are the challenges and opportunities and how to address the challenges and seize opportunities, and possible elements of an agreement in outcome document on a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication

N/A
c) Institutional framework for sustainable development: Priorities and proposals for strengthening individual pillars of sustainable development, as well as those for strengthening integration of the three pillars, at multiple levels; local, national, regional and international.

N/A
d) Any proposals for refinement of the two themes. Recall that Resolution 64/236 describes the focus of the Conference: "The focus of the Conference will include the following themes to be discussed and refined during the preparatory process: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development".

N/A

Inputs for Rio+20 Compilation Document

The conceptual problems of Green Economy and Sustainable Development

On behalf of the

Association for Protection of Environment and Culture (APEC-Nepal) and

Atlantic States Legal Foundation (ASLF), Inc. (NGO), USA

Input submitted by Medani P. Bhandari (medani.bhandari@gmail.com) co-founder and former chair of APEC-Nepal; Scientist of at the ASLF-USA and Research Associate at Syracuse University, NY, USA

APEC-Nepal: General objectives of the organization are to extend help in the protection of biological diversity such as wildlife, wetland species, forest resources and development of the nation by organizing individuals and experts in the conservation of natural resources and sustainable use. Founded in 1985, APEC-Nepal is a member of IUCN; accredited with the UNEP; member if Global Environment Facility-NGO Networks and associated with UN-DPI. http://www.geocities.ws/ngo_apec/

ASLF-USA: Atlantic States Legal Foundation (ASLF) was established in 1982 to provide affordable legal, technical and organizational assistance to individuals, community groups, and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as a way to effectively remediate threats to the natural environment. ASLF is accredited with the UNEP; member if Global Environment Facility-NGO Networks and associated with UN-DPI. http://aslf.org/

Introduction:

As the Rio+20 has already set the objective to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, it should begin to create common ground to build the consensus among stakeholders as it was able to do in the Rio 1992.

a. What are the expectations for the outcome of Rio+20, and what are the concrete proposals in this regard, including views on a possible structure of the Outcome document?

The Rio+20 conferences should prioritize for the political commitments through the institutionalization of the Sustainable Development and Green Economy concepts in various binding agreements.

b. What are the comments, if any, on existing proposals: e.g., a green economy roadmap, framework for action, sustainable development goals, a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development, or others?

The proposed themes of Rio+20 Conference-- a green economy (GE) in the context of sustainable development (SD) and poverty eradication and the institutional framework for sustainable development-- are very vague. There is no clear documentation regarding the history and the theoretical route of green economy initiatives. In separate attached document, I outline the theoretical frame of GE and SD (see attached document).

c. What are the views on implementation and on how to close the implementation gap, which relevant actors are envisaged as being involved (Governments, specific Major Groups, UN system, IFIs, etc.);

There is an assumption that GE tries to capture the notion of the vulnerability of human welfare, caused by the degradation of global environment, which can be understood as a result of the widespread application of an unsustainable economic growth. Probably, it captures the concerns of the past four decades to address climate change to frame treaty agreements. The GE initiates can serve as a tool for the greening as an engine for growth, with valuing the ecosystem services and biodiversity issues by addressing strategic uncertainty such as: the likelihood of adverse effects; the consequences of change; the speed of change; discontinuities; and especially uncertainty over the effectiveness of policy instruments.

The issues of institutionalization of political commitments are missing in Rio+20. In order to attain the objectives of the SD, institutional framework has to be developed to coordinate and manage activities of all related stakeholders (i.e. governments, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors; development banks; international nongovernmental and governmental organizations; national nongovernmental organizations etc.). It requires an effective institutional structure, strong policy, and framework for policy implementation and can work effectively, efficiently, equitably and transparently.

d. What specific cooperation mechanisms, partnership arrangements or other implementation tools are envisaged and what is the relevant time frame for the proposed decisions to be reached and actions to be implemented?

To achieve the desired outcomes in such complicated themes, it would be hard to propose the specific timeframe. However, it is also necessary to bind within the time frame; therefore, I proposed three schemes (1) 2 to 3 years policy and program framing phase; 4-6 years program implementation phase; and 7-10 years monitoring and evaluation phase.

To implement the green economy initiatives in the developing world, there is also a need to change or revisit the trade regulations imposed by the World Trade Organization (WTO); especially the social and environmental conditions of specific developments such as the removal of the ability of foreign cooperation to over-ride local social and environmental factors. To foster the ability of the developing world, it is essential to establish a chain of cooperation between North and South. The chain of cooperation can be established through creation of international oversight schemes which can help to bridge the gap between North and South.